We Want These 5 Series To Get HD 2D Games Now

5 Game Series That Desperately Need the HD 2D Treatment (And Why Developers Are Missing Out)

Look, we need to talk about something that’s been bugging me for a while now. Square Enix goes and creates this absolutely gorgeous HD 2D art style that makes everyone’s jaws drop, and then what happens? They use it for a handful of games and call it a day. Meanwhile, the rest of the gaming industry is sitting there like they’ve never seen pixel art before, completely ignoring what could be the most beautiful visual renaissance we’ve seen in years.

Don’t get me wrong – games like Octopath Traveler and Triangle Strategy are stunning. But come on, developers! There’s a whole treasure trove of beloved franchises just begging for the HD 2D makeover, and apparently, nobody wants to pick up that golden opportunity. So here I am, doing the heavy lifting and pointing out five game series that would absolutely shine with this treatment.

Final Fantasy VI Deserves Better Than Mobile Ports

Okay, this one should be obvious, but apparently, it needs to be said louder for the people in the back. Final Fantasy VI is widely considered one of the greatest JRPGs ever made, and what does it get? A questionable mobile port that looks like it was designed by someone who thought “smooth” meant “soulless.” The HD 2D style would be perfect for Terra’s journey and that iconic opera scene.  Imagine Kefka’s tower rendered in those lush, detailed backgrounds we’ve come to love. The pixel art sprites dancing across beautifully crafted dioramas? Chef’s kiss. But no, instead we get… whatever that mobile version was supposed to be.

Square Enix, you’re literally sitting on a goldmine here, and you’re choosing to dig for copper instead.

Chrono Trigger Could Be the HD 2D Masterpiece We All Need

Here’s where I get a little emotional, because Chrono Trigger isn’t just a game – it’s practically a religious experience for many of us. This time-traveling epic has everything: memorable characters, an incredible soundtrack, and some of the most iconic scenes in gaming history.

The HD 2D treatment would breathe new life into Crono’s adventure without sacrificing what made it special in the first place. Picture the Millennial Fair with those gorgeous depth-of-field effects, or the haunting beauty of 2300 A.D. rendered in stunning detail. The multiple endings alone would justify the development cost, because who wouldn’t want to experience the Lavos fight in glorious HD 2D?

But instead, we keep getting the same old ports. Come on, developers – show this masterpiece the respect it deserves!

Secret of Mana Would Actually Work This Time

Let’s be brutally honest here – the 2018 Secret of Mana remake was… not great. The 3D models felt lifeless, and somehow they managed to make one of the most charming games ever feel like a soulless cash grab. Thanks, I hate it.

But you know what would work? The HD 2D style that actually celebrates the original’s artistic vision instead of trying to “modernize” it into oblivion. The whimsical world of Mana would pop out in those rich, artful backgrounds and smooth sprite animation, can’t you see the vision already?. The ring menu system would look incredible with proper visual effects, and don’t even get me started on how amazing the Mana Tree would look.

This is legit a no-brainer, and yet here we are, still waiting for someone to connect the dots why are we stuck waiting? No one really knows.

Super Metroid Could Redefine  Gaming

Now this might sound a little crazy, but hear me out. Super Metroid is already a visual masterpiece, but imagine that lonely, haunting atmosphere enhanced by the HD 2D treatment. Those dark corridors of Zebes would be breathtaking with proper lighting effects and detailed environmental storytelling. This could be our future people! The isolation that makes Super Metroid so special would be amplified tenfold with the visual depth that HD 2D provides.

Picture Samus exploring those ancient ruins with particles floating in the air, or the way her arm cannon would gleam in the dim light of an alien cavern. Nintendo, you’ve got the perfect opportunity here to show that HD 2D isn’t just for JRPGs. But knowing Nintendo, they’ll probably give us another 2D Metroid that looks exactly like the last one. Thanks for playing it safe, I guess.

A Link to the Past Would Break the Internet

And finally, we come to what might be the most obvious choice that everyone’s too scared to suggest: The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past. This is the game that defined what 2D Zelda could be, and it’s practically crying out for the HD 2D treatment.

The Light and Dark World mechanics with proper visual effects?? Just dream about it! Imagine transitioning between worlds with gorgeous particle effects, or seeing Hyrule Castle rendered with the same attention to detail we saw in Triangle Strategy. The dungeon designs alone would justify the entire project.But will Nintendo do it? Probably not. They’re too busy making the same Link’s Awakening remake over and over again. At least that one was cute, I’ll give them that.

Why Aren’t More Developers Jumping on This?

Here’s what really gets me frustrated about this whole situation. The HD 2D style isn’t just pretty, even if it sends the heartbeat racing, it’s reasonable, letting us celebrate pixel art while bringing it into the modern era. Without becoming horribly bankrupt, it’s literally the best of both worlds! Yet somehow, most of the industry is still stuck thinking that “next-gen” means “more polygons.” Meanwhile, games like Octopath Traveler are proving that players are hungry for this kind of visual artistry.

So here’s my challenge to developers out there: stop playing it safe. Pick up one of these franchises,  place a bet on red, give it the HD 2D treatment it deserves. Trust me, your bank account will thank you later.